Horse; verso: Profile Head c. 1845 - 1847

Curator: This is a page from a sketchbook by Sanford Robinson Gifford, the Hudson River School painter. He drew a horse, and on the reverse, a profile head. Editor: It's so unassuming—almost weightless in its execution. The graphite barely kisses the page, yet you feel the form. Curator: These quick sketches offered Gifford an opportunity to record details—light, shadow, texture—that would later inform his landscapes. Editor: The economy of line is fascinating. He captures the essence of the animal with so few strokes. Look at the placement of the legs and the implied musculature. Curator: I find it intriguing how artists’ sketches, like this one, provide an intimate view into their working process and the cultural values of the time. Editor: Absolutely. It really underscores how much can be communicated through minimal means. A beautiful example of form.